HBV Basic Science

Treating adult mice with antibiotics to wipe out their intestinal microbiota made them unable to naturally clear hepatitis B virus (HBV), so they became more like young mice that developed chronic infection, according to a report in the February 2 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers also showed that mice lacking toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) cleared HBV regardless of age.

Researchers from the University of Oxford and the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases have determined the crystal structure of the hepatitis B "e" antigen (HBeAg), which plays a role in immune tolerance and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, according to a study published in the January 8, 2013, issue of the journal Structure. These findings may aid the development of new therapies that improve immune response against the virus.

Genetic analysis of a liver sample from a mummified child found in Korea has revealed a distinct ancient form of a hepatitis B virus C2 genotype now common in Southeast Asia, researchers reported in the May 21, 2012, advance online edition of Hepatology.